Electric switch



1949. H. J. HAMMERLY 2,480,410

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept. 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. HERMAN J HAMMEELY Aug. 30, 1949. H. J. HAMMERLY 2,430,410

- ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept- 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 48 HERMAN J HAMMEBLY Patented Aug. 30, 1949 ELECTRIC SWITCH Herman J. Hammerly, Plainville, Conn, assignor to The Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, Piainville, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 25, 1946, Serial No. 699,149

6 Claims. 1

My invention relates particularly to what are called transfer switches for sequentially controlling a number of operations.

The main object is to provide a simple, compact and inexpensive switch unit, the parts of which can be assembled in any one of several ways so as to provide for the desired sequence of circuit controls and which can be changed when desired to other sequential operations.

The drawings and specification show and describe one form of switch unit embodying my invention and a modification capable of combining with the basic unit to provide for a greater number of arrangements.

In the basic unit the actuating handle has three possible positions and there are two movable switch arms which can be controlled in a number of different sequences depending upon the predetermined assembly of the parts of the actuator.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of switch embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical projection or side view and partial section of the same switch.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the switch of Fig. 1, the bottom plate being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the body and rotor, the contacts being omitted.

Fig. 5 is an exploded side view of parts of the switch.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the rotor.

Fig. 7 is a bottom View of the rotor.

Fig. 8 is a side view and partial section showing a type of switch embodying two units.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the lower part of the switch of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the part shown in Fig. 9.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are enlarged views showing parts of a switch unit, the rotor being shown in its three operating positions and the actuating pins arranged in different ways to produce different sequences of circuit operation.

The insulating body M in the form shown is provided with a mounting plate l5 suitably secured to it and which has an extended sleeve l6 and a clamping ring 11.

Circuit terminals I8, 18 and l9, 19 are suitably secured in the corners of the body and the movable contact elements are mounted within a recess or chamber 20 in the body. In the form shown, the movable switch members are in the form of spring arms 2 1, 2|, each of which has one end secured to a circuit terminal 18 and the other end adapted to coact with a stationary contact 2 22 which is connected to a terminal l9. chamber is closed by a bottom plate 23.

Within the chamber is mounted a rotor 24 which is actuated by a handle 25 on the upper end of shaft 26. For convenience in assembly, the shaft 25 is made separate from the rotor and is rotatable in the body l4 and is provided with a notch 21 in its lower end which coacts with a projection 28 on the rotor. The rotor may be secured to the post of the actuating member by a screw 29 inserted from below.

The rotor 24 has two arcuate projections 30, 30 which are adapted to engage the abutments 3|, 3! as the rotor is moved from side to side. In the form shown, the rotor is adapted to have three rotative positions as shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, one position in which the projections 30, 30 are midway between the abutments 3|, 3| and two other positions when the rotor is turned toward the right or left as the case may be. To resiliently hold the rotor in these positions, I have provided the rotor with pockets 32, 32 into which spring pressed pins 33, 33 project when the rotor is in the central or mid position and other pockets 34, 34 which are brought into alignment with the pins 33, 33 when the rotor has been turned to the right or to the left.

In order to actuate the spring contact arms, the rotor is provided with a number of sockets 36, 36 in this case eight and in which sockets are seated headed pins 31, 31, which are placed in the sockets in such positions as to cause the pins to actuate the spring arms in the desired sequence of circuit opening and closing actions.

In Fig. 11, the pins 31, 31 are located in the rotor in such a position that when the rotor is in the mid position the pins will press down upon the spring arms 2 l, 2| and separate the movable ends of the arms from the stationary contacts 22, 22 so that the circuit through each arm will be opened.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 12, the rotor is turned to its extreme anti-clockwise position and the actuating pins 31, 31 are in such posi* tion in the rotor that both of the contact arms are in the closed circuit position.

In Fig. 13, the rotor is shown in its extreme clockwise position and the pins 31, 31 are so located that the upper arm 2| is in the closed circuit position and the lower arm 21 is in the open circuit position. It will be noted that in Fig. 13 the terminal I3 is shown at the right whereas the terminal i3 is shown at the left. The purpose being to illustrate the fact that both con- The tact arms can be secured to the same side of the body or opposite sides as the case may be.

When more than two poles are required, a. supplemental unit may be provided having an insulating body 40 with a chamber 4! for containing the switch members. The part to may be secured topart 4 l, by screws or rivets (not shown) in the passages 42, 42 or in any other suitable manner, This unit is provided with circuit terminals 43, 43 and 44, 44 similar to the terminals l8, l8 and I9, l9. Similar spring arms 45, 45 are secured to two of the circuit terminals and adapted to coact with contacts' ifi, 45 connected to the opposite terminals.

Rotor 4! has a hub 48 mounted in a socket or bearing in the bottom of the body 49 and also has an actuating shaft 49, the upper end of which is connected in an irregular socket in the bottom of the rotor 24 so that the rotor 41 is turned whenever the rotor 24 is turned. The body ill has abutments 55 t corresponding to abutments 3|, 3! previously described which limit the turns ing of the rotor ti. Rotor it? also has pins 5! suitably located in sockets 52; in a manner corre sponding to that previously described with respect to pins 31 and sockets 35. In such a combination, it is desirable to provide an insulating partition 53 between the parts l4 and 4-0 which of course will have a passage for the shaft 59 which conne'cts the two rotors.

As the two rotors are interlocked rotatably through the shaft' is it is obvious that the positioning pins 33 will serve to hold the two rotors in the right, left or central position as the case maybe.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the ine vention is adapted to several poles and that a variety of sequences ofoperation may be obtained by simple arrangement or rearrangement of the assembly;

As each movable switch contact arm is separately controlled by oneehalf of the rotor a great number of combinations of action between the two. arms can be obtained,

Such a switch is designed to be mounted in the some space i enclosure no m l y c pie by a standard push button switch.

When more that two poles are desired one or more. ex ra insulat ng bas m y be added to t ass mbl each having ts, n ro or nd pr n co tact armslaim;

1- an electric rans er swi ch p i g an insulating body having a. chamber, a switch member mounted to turn in said chamber, stops for limiting the turn n movement, sprin pressed mean iQr yieldingly hold n a d. witch m mber any one of several rotative positions, resilient sw tch arms, extend ng across the lower fac of said switch member, said member having several sockets and actuating pins removably mounted in some of said sockets for coacting with said switch arms for actuating said arms according to a predetermined angular movement of said switch member.

2. An electric transfer switch comprising an insulating body having a, chamber, a switch member mounted to turn in said chamber, stops for limiting the turning movement, spring pressed means for gieldingly holding said sWitQh member in any one of three rotative positions, a resilient switch arm extending across a face of said switch member, said member having at least four sockets adapted to selectively hold actuating pins for coacting with said switch arm for actuating said arm according to a predetermined angular movement of said switch member.

3. An electric, transfer switch comprising an insulating body having a chamber, a switch member mounted to, tag; in said chamber, spring pressed means for yieldingly holding said switch member in any one of three rotative positions, two resilient switch arms extending across a face of said switch member, said member having eight sockets adapted to. selectively hold actuating pins for coacting with said switcharms for actue. ating said arms according to. a predetermined angular movement of saidswitch member.

4. A transfer switch comprising a housing, a movable switch member mounted therein, a rocker mounted in the housing and having a pluralit; of sockets for selectively holding pins for actuating said switch member and a handle mem-- ber connected to said rocker and projecting from said housing,

5. A transfer switch comprising a housing, a rocker having a hub oseillatable in the housing and having a n-umberof sockets, actuating pins interchangeably mounted; in some of said sockets and spring switch arms carried by said housing and extendii gi across a iace oi said rocker and adapted to be actuated by said ins.

6; A transfer switch comprising an insulating bo y co itu a housi g aving a chamber, a rotor mounted in th housing, an actuating h dl h ing, a ha t rqtatably sup d n t dy, a a l switchmember suppo t by a d body, means fgr connecting said rotor to said shaft, means for resiliently holding said rotor in a h of s a r tat d" position said ro o a ing a number of sockets and an actuating pin mounted in one of said sockets and coacting with said switch member to open and close a circuit as the shaft and rotor are turned. r

J1 HAM E ItEl ERENCE Sv GITED The io cwlns. reieronces are oi r cord n t file of this patent:

UNITED fiTA'FES PATENTS Number 7 Name. Date 2,354,750 Hall Aug. 1, 1944 2,426,306 Houck Aug. 26, 1947 

